Thoughts on US Camp: Player by Player

Bob Bradley’s selection for US camp preparing for the final qualifier of the semifinals of the group stage. Let’s look at each player and whether or not he has a national team future.

GOALKEEPERS :

Brian Edwards (Toronto FC),

A training camp related call in. This is simply meant to have an extra training camp keeper.

Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF),

Now is the time to ascertain whether or not Perkins is an international level keeper.

Matt Pickens (out of contract)

Needed a third keeperDEFENDERS:

Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)

With Heath Pearce’s uneven play, Bornstein has an opportunity to start again for the US at left back should Nevan Subotic choose to play elsewhere

Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy)

A great call in. Let’s see if Franklin can handle the physical nature of international football

Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids)

Gibbs return to health spurred the Rapids late season run. Gibbs was one of the best American defenders before he got hurt in 2006.

Clarence Goodson (IK Start)

A good time to give Goodson another look

Drew Moor (FC Dallas)

The only truly bad selection of this bunch. Why Bradley likes Moor so much is a great mystery.

Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)

Parkhurst had a rough second half of the season with the Revs but remains one of the best options for the US.MIDFIELDERS:

Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids)

Clark can be a lively and creative force on the left flank for the US.

Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo)

Really came back strong in September and October

Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA)

Obviously a core player for the US heading into 2009

Nick LaBrocca (Colorado Rapids)

A nice call up for a good young player

Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

My thinking is that the US must still depend on Pablo so long as he is able to play

FORWARDS:

Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards)

Why Arnuad has not previously gotten more looks is beyond me.

Chad Barrett (Toronto FC)

I really think Barrett has the tools to be a better international than club team player.

Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)

When Casey was with Mainz he was the only American to consistently score goals in Europe. Yet every call in to the national team he flopped. Hopefully age and maturity mean he’ll take this opportunity. It could be his last.

About Kartik Krishnaiyer

A lifelong lover of soccer, the beautiful game, he served from January 2010 until May 2013 as the Director of Communications and Public Relations for the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Raised on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the old NASL, Krishnaiyer previously hosted the American Soccer Show on the Champions Soccer Radio Network, the Major League Soccer Talk podcast and the EPL Talk Podcast.
His soccer writing has been featured by several media outlets including The Guardian and The Telegraph. He is the author of the book Blue With Envy about Manchester City FC.
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This is not the list of players that will face Guatemala. This is a list of players that will be in a training camp for the next few days. On Sunday, Bradley will name the roster for the Guatemala match which will include more European players and other MLS players.

The team selection for the next match may tell you more about Bradley’s thinking then the camp list. Given the end of the MLS regular season Bradley has scheduled a MLS workout for the USMNT. Nothing wrong with that and it’s great to be in a position to look over the entire player pool with no pressure.